Malakai Black Done With AEW?
House of Black leader's AEW status remains in question following All Out 2022.
Malakai Black's All Elite Wrestling status remains in question following All Out 2022, where his House of Black stable was defeated by Sting, Darby Allin, and Miro.
Black was pinned in the bout. This was telling in and of itself, as Buddy Matthews would typically take the fall when the House is defeated.
Afterwards, in an act that didn't air, Black broke character to blow a kiss and bow for the live crowd, before he, Brody King, Matthews, and Julia Hart headed to the back. This was captured by attendee @KayyMickey:-
Very weird ending for Malakai Black. I don't think this part aired. I feel like he knows something we don't know. #AEWAllOut pic.twitter.com/Xu2AJ4cZBB
— KayyDott (@KayyMickey) September 5, 2022
AEW founder and CEO Tony Khan was asked about the above during the post-All Out media scrum. Khan answered that he wasn't sure what it was about, adding that he couldn't comment further.
Then, on Sunday's Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that while there was no confirmation that Black had left AEW, he was operating under the presumption that this is the case.
Malakai's name was in the pro wrestling headlines last week. Reports on his AEW status varied from the Dutchman asking for (and being denied) his release from the company, to personal circumstances deep enough to necessitate a wrestling hiatus.